Now he had noticed for himself that she was a grown woman. Why did it make her feel so strange? As if there was something wrong with growing up? Had he sounded distant? Was that why she was feeling almost ashamed of having grown up?

But her anxiety washed away when Mukundo visited them in the evening. He was his usual self. Joking with her and pulling her legs. Also, giving her advice on how to manage her studies once she went to Mumbai.

He must have been busy in last few days, then. And growing up wasn’t a bad thing either.

—

Mukundo went to Mumbai sooner than planned. Mr. Banerjee caught flu just three days before Piyali was to leave. The responsibility of taking her to Mumbai automatically fell on Mukundo’s shoulders.

“Why are looking so somber, Piyali? Kaku would be fine in another couple of days. You needn’t worry about him,” Mukundo told her on the flight.

“Yeah. It’s not that really.”

“Then?”

“Just… Would you miss me, Mukundo Babu?”

“You have a doubt about that?”

“Well… You will get married… And then who has the time…”

“Where did that come from? Who is getting married?”

“Baba has been looking around. He said he had promised you Baba…”

“Rubbish. You don’t worry about all that.”

“I am not worrying really,” she smiled at him, “Wouldn’t it be great if you got married?”

“I’ve done that once,” he said bitterly, “And I’m done with it.”

“Why are you getting angry at me?”

“No,” he smiled, “I’m not angry with you. Remember this though. I can never stop missing you. And I have promised to come every month, haven’t I?”

She gave him that smile of hers which always warmed his heart.

—

“What is this?” It was Piyali’s first day in the campus. Mukundo was staying for four days to ensure that she was settled in. She was busy with induction activities the entire day and had come to meet him in the evening. Mukundo was surprised by her attire and could not suppress an amused chuckle. She was wearing a salwaar, kurta and dupatta, each from a different set. Her hair was oiled and tied in two ponytails. She looked ridiculous.

“Don’t act so innocent. As if you don’t know about ragging. Why hadn’t your warned me?”

“Warned you about what? That they will make you wear ridiculous dresses. I didn’t know what the trend was these days…”

“Not that!”

“Then?”

“Nothing.”

“Piyali. Is everything all right?”

“Yeah.”

“Listen. Some of my classmates are now professors here. I know them very well. If someone is troubling you too much, we can talk to…”

“No. No. Don’t do that. It will only alienate me.”

“That’s very wise of you. But at least tell me what is happening. Something is bothering you. And it’s not this ridiculous dress, right?”

“It’s just that… you should have warned me… I shouldn’t have told the seniors that you are my neighbor, and not a relative.”

“What happened?” he asked cautiously. He could almost guess now.

“Nothing happened. Just that… they are making me say things… And it’s not good.”

“I… I am sorry, Piyali. I really didn’t think… I thought only boys did such things…” If a boy came with her sister, or worst still, if his sister or some other female relative was already in the campus, senior students would make him ‘describe’ the girl in most obscene terms. Apparently his notion that girls didn’t do such things was either a misinformed or an antiquated one.

“Yeah? You think all girls are like convent nuns?”

“Would you be fine, Piyali? Do you want me to stay on until the ragging is over? You can stay away from the hostel…”

“I’m almost tempted to accept the offer. But I should learn to manage, shouldn’t I?”

He smiled fondly, “Yes. You are a strong girl.”

“But right now, I am going to wash my hair and change into something wearable. Then you will take me out for dinner.”

“You don’t want to eat with your new friends?”

“I have next four years to do that. I will only see you only once a month now. That is, if you keep your promise.”

She took out some clothes from her bag and slipped into his bathroom.

Mukundo’s smile disappeared as soon as she slipped out of his sight. What had they made her say? She had looked so vulnerable when he had as much as mentioned her being a grown woman. How would she have felt about it, when they made her say whatever it was? He didn’t want to imagine what it was.

Piyali on the other hand had said it. It had started with a prank that was familiar to her. They would do it even in school. They would have someone describe her daily routine. “I got up.” “I took a shower.” Then they would have her add the name of her favorite celebrity after each action. “I got up… with Shahrukh Khan.” “I took a shower… with Shahrukh Khan.” If they had made her say it with Shahid Kapoor, her celebrity crush, she would also have giggled with them. But they had made her say it “with Mukundo Babu.” Her hot neighbor, as those who had seen him described him. Hot? Of course, he was hot. Tall, broad shoulders, clean-shaven, criminally fair skin, those penetrating eyes, thick hair… By the time she had come to the end of her day — “I went to bed… with Mukundo Babu” – she had felt a chill run down her spine. She had found herself thinking about it. What would it be like? To sleep beside him? To feel the warmth of his body? The ragging was getting to her. She was going crazy.

—

Her father visited her the next month. So, Mukundo came back two months later. She was nervous about upcoming exams. “Chemistry? I can’t believe why we still have to study Chemistry! I am supposed to be doing a course in Computer Science, for God’s sake?”

“Calm down, Pihu Rani. You have attended all the classes, right? That should sail you through.”

“But it is a good thing you came, Mukundo Babu. At least the rooms in guest house have AC. I can study here comfortably. The rooms in the hostel are boiling.”

“Good then. You study. I will finish some work meanwhile.”

“Mukundo Babu!”

“Yes?”

“A friend of mine will also come in a bit. He is good with Chemistry. I enticed him to study with me by telling him about the AC,” she grinned.

Mukundo laughed. “You are growing wicked. But good for you.”

Mukundo did not know whether she was trying to hide it or not, but the romantic currents were obvious between her and her good-with-Chemistry friend – Ahwaan. Besides, from the way they were studying, it didn’t seem like he was particularly good with Chemistry. Piyali was explaining more to him that he was to her.

“We can get you an AC in your room, if the heat is bothering you,” he told her later.

“It’s not allowed. We can have coolers at most. There are people who rent it out for four years. I have already got one fitted.”

“Good.”

—

To be continued